They told me, 'You should go to college,' and at that point I was 38. So thought, 'It is over for me, I can’t, are you crazy? I can’t go to school now.' And they said, 'Why not?' And that is how I began my educational journey as a late learner, an adult learner.
Brenda Safford was born on August 5, 1956 in Lubbock, Texas. Moving to Worcester with her second husband, Brenda worked within the community and became an adult learner at the age of 38, receiving both her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Human Services. Brenda is currently the director of Multicultural Affairs at Assumption College. In this interview, Brenda speaks about her days growing up in Lubbock, Texas, and her experiences with both racial segregation and integration in her school system. She speaks of the personal challenges she faced becoming an adult learner, and going to college at a time when she felt her opportunity to do so had been missed. Brenda also reflects life lessons that she has collected along the way from influential women in her life and from times of celebration, grief, revelation, and defining moments of spirituality. Brenda offers advice to future generations of women and emphasizes the true importance of knowing and believing in one’s self.